Measure



(No Model.)

O. E. BRADLEY.

MEASURE. I No. 554,474. V Patented Pebfll, 189.6.

W Inventor; Clarencellmflfy @4 7 hfjiffarl reyf" ANDREW B.GRAHAM.FKUTO-UTMO WASNINGTUNJZ C UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.-

CLARENCE E. BRADLEY, OF MANKATO, MINNESOTA.

M EASU RE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,474, dated February 11, 1896. Application filed May 14, 1895. Serial No. 549,233. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. BRAD- LEY, of the city of Mankato, county of Blue Earth, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dry measures, and the object I have in View is to provide a measure which may be easily and quickly emptied of its contents; and a further object is to provide a measure which one person can readily empty into a sack or other receptacle without spilling the contents.

My invention consists generally. in a measure with a hinged bottom, adapted to remain closed while the measure is being filled and to be opened by a single movement or jerk of the measure when it is desired toempty it, and, further, my invention consists in particular constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawin gs,forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a measure embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view of the lower portion of the measure, showing the hinged bottom partly open. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottom of the measure or pail, showing the hinged flaps or halves partially open.

In the drawings, 2 represents a pail or measure, which may have the form of the ordinary measure used for measuring vegetables, fruit, or grain, or, as I prefer, it may be smaller at the bottom in order that it may be more easily slipped into a bag or other light receptacle, and is provided with a bail 3, for which any other handle may be substituted. The bottom of the pail or measure is provided with the hinged parts 4 and 5,which are pivoted or hinged to opposite sides of the pail or measure by means of the straps 6 and suitable pins or pivots 7. The under surfaces of the parts 4 and 5 are provided with flanges 8, forming, when the bottom is closed, a ring extending entirely around the lower end of the pail or measure, which is provided on its inner surface at the lower end with the lugs or studs 9 and 10, having bent ends to enter openings in the parts 4 and 5, as shown in Fig. 1. These parts 9 and 10 are made of spring material, so that they will spring slightly when forced through the opening in the parts 4 and 5 and prevent the same from swinging down to open the bottom until disengaged from said parts by a jerk on the bail of the pail or measure.

The bottom can be opened only when the measure has something in it, as the weight of the parts 4 and 5 is not suflicient to disengage the lugs 9 and 10 from said parts. The springs 11 and 12 also prevent the parts 4 and 5 from swinging back too far and rendering it inconvenient to close them after dumping the measure.

The parts 4 and 5 substantially fill the bottom of the measure, so that nothing will pass out through, the same until it is desired to empty the measure of its contents. This style of bottom maybe applied toa dry measure of any size and shape with equally good results.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A measure, having an opening in its bottom, the doors hinged to the opposite sides thereof, the studs or lugs carried by said measure, said studs being provided with shoulders to engage said doors, to hold the same in a closed position until disengaged therefrom by a jerk of said measure, substan tially as described.

2. A measure, having an opening in its bottom, the doors pivoted to the oppositesides thereof and adapted to close said opening, the studs carried by said measure in position to enter openings provided in said doors, said studs being provided with shoulders adapted to engage the edges of said openings, to retain said doors in a closed position until disengaged therefrom by jerking said measure, substantially as described.

3. A measure provided with an open bottom, the doors 4 and 5 hinged to the opposite sides thereof and adapted to close the open ing in its bottom, said doors being provided with the flanges 8, the springs 11 and 12 secured to the outer surface of said measure,

and in engagement with said flanges, said doors being provided with suitable openings, the studs 9 and 10 secured to the inner surface of said measure and adapted to pass through the openings provided in said doors, said studs having bent ends whereby shoulders are formed to engage the edge of said openings to retain said doors in a closed position until disengaged therefrom by a jerk of said measure when it is desired to empty it of its contents, substantially as described. I0 I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of May, A. D. 1895.

CLARENCE E. BRADLEY. In presence of- O. G. HAWLEY, M. E. GOOLEY. 

